Time passed

My son has recieved medical license at last.The name Mr. Nagatsuma was signed on the official paper in The Democratic Party as a Minister of Health and Welfare. Comparing the approval number with that of my license, the order of magnitude recognized me the time has passed since my good days.

Now my burden to make the next generation continue relatively safely is opened.

The time is come to re-design my residual life from now.

Improvement

10 years period of time has brought remarkable improvements in automobile production, finding out them on NCP10 TOYOTA Vitz, about the motor, all alminum cylinder block, continuous intake valve timing adjustment system VVTi and offset crank shaft design, and about trans-axle, accelarative lock-up contorol while any gear position Super Intelligent Transmission.

But on the other hand, improved compliance axle design spoiles the stability that is indispensable for driving pleasure, especially compliance bushes equipped in frontal lower arms are not acceptable for me. Additionally the worse is rear axle beam construction,lateral movement of rear H shaped beam axle makes the steering astringency cloudy and dull so much, though newer model has some modification by twisting the arm hinge axas inside on both side.

The similarities of NCP10 TOYOTA Vitz with ancient Volkswagen Type1 Beetle are followings:

Small and light weight.

Driving high position.

4 cylinders and 1,3L motors.

Trailing rear beam axle.

Relatively low price.

World wide exporting targets.

Shallow baggage space.

Simple dash board.

Not so good but not so bad stability.

No fatigue after a relatively long driving.

Replace parts

New alternator part for XH200W Opel Vectra was ordered because the comparison proved the no compatibility between Vectra and Astra.

The replacing work will be performed on Thursday. The connecting hose between secondary air supply pump and it's control valve has some cruck because of long term use, formed genuine parts must be ordered.

13 years old auto places demands on replacement of parts one after another, they are not negligibly expensive.

Compatibility ?

One phase lack of three alternative current showed on oscillo scope two days before yesterday that the one of diodes was opened in alternator on Bosch 120A alternator.

After removing from engine room of Opel Vectra obtained as old replacement parts at 1,000yen, comparison with that of Astra would be performed today.

The compatibility between them will decide the possibility of transplantation of rectifier modules.

Anyway time consuming and troublesome task is waiting now, let's go !

Ill functioned alternator in XH200W Opel Vectra makes me nervous, being at a loss how to do, there are two ways, order new one at the cost of 35,000yen or utilize old rectifier parts from Astra's with the same physical property.
Two alternators would be disassembled on comming Thursday anyway then the decision will be done occasionally.
Poor charging capability into lead battery means unreliable vehicle, no way to choose it, because the reliable and no anxiety are the primary requirements for a vehicle.

Servicing autos

Replacement of fuel pump on XH200W Opel Vectra wiped out the anxiety to stop on the way because of 150,000km being used, the life of the pump is said to be around 100,000km.
The examination on BOSCH 120A alternator with oscillo scope showed dirty shape missing one diode in rectifier and regulator, sooner or later disassembling and parts replacement are necessary utilizing that of Astra with different mounting position on frontal case.There are two ways, upper and complete exchanging into DENSO for SUBARU 70A.
Anyway now the vehicle needs additional charging once two weeks.

NCP10 TOYOTA Vitz completed after rib belts replacement, disappeared any strange noises.

EP82 TOYOTA Starlet almost completed except stater moter, whole starter motor assembly or magnet switch module replacement would be perfect completion.

BC7 SUBARU Legacy already completed but set back precise adjustment would acquire more comfortable steering reaction.

SXE10 TOYOTA Alteza is in ideal condition with little running distance, 15,000km.

BLE SUBARU Legacy 3L is not at my hand but my son's, disassembled and arranged in his way like his toy.

Tree tasks

Three tasks would be put in order today, fine and clear !

Replacement of rib belts will make it clear the cause of detonation like knocking noise at specific RPM on NCP10 TOYOTA Vitz today, reporting in the evening. If the noise will not disapear it must be difficult to elase, because of complicated emission control and continuously controled intake valve timing by oil pressure(VVTi).

About XH200W Opel Vectra, the 150,000km used fuel pump will be replaced into new BOSCH parts and be checked the 3 phase sine curves of alternator utilizing oscilloscope becasue of luck of charging capability by BOSCH 120A type, rectifier or regulator ?

Description in the evening:

Replacement of rib belts wiped away completely on NCP10 TOYOTA Vitz. Checked resonance region idling to 6,000 RPM was and tensions were adjusted on both 2 belts.

Fuel pump replacement was performed so carefully not to make any errors after re-assembling.

Three phaze sin waves were observed using old oscillo scope, finding out regular missing, meaning one diode on rectifier disorder.

TOYOTA 2NZ-FE motor

Newly developped TOYOTA 2NZ-FE motor on NCP10 Vitz has remarkable improvements, first of all the continuous intake valve timing control system VVTi, all alminum cylinder block, 12mm offset crank shaft design and far improved automatic trans-axle Super Intelligent E-4AT with lock-up system on adequate situations in any gear positions.
But in such kind of circumstances, the motor makes detonation like knocking noise at districted condition.
The replacement of rib belts for power steering pump and alternator would make the reason clear tomorrow if it is caused by some motor design for anti-pollution emission control or just by tracking errors between pulleys.

Belief

Over 10 years reseaches on wheel alignment and the axle constructive geometry proved several facts. Especially rear toe adjustment on SXE10 TOYOTA Alteza suggested that the total toe in rear wheels affect on the steering reaction, too much total toe including thrusts caused by negative cambers does harm, sticky, clingy, heavy and dull one in centric steering position.

These phenomenon may be percieved by the driver as good stability and acceptable comfortability, but they are observed under the condition of 5 minutes thrust error(angle value within European Automobile Standard, ±10min.).

So the application of too much total toe on rear wheel alignment causes travel resistance and dull steering reaction while straight running.
The belief that the more rear total toe establish the stability is not to the point, but it mainly owes to zero thrust angle under correct wheel alignments and constructive white body geometry.

False or true proposition ?

Wheel alignment adjustment suggested that the tight reaction on centric steering position has most to do with the rear total toe value.
The tightness in centric position may be accepted as some stability, but this perception is not correct. Because tight steering feeling is felt even in the condition with 5 minute(angle value) thrust angle error.
After precise adjustment of thrust angle on SXE10 Alteza by reducing total toe value.
Attaining correct wheel alignment on the model taking all day long yesterday, very confortable steering reaction was obtained.
Again I conclude that the tightness of steering reaction in centric position has nothing to do with the stability on straight running.
Proverb also says, "Only the matter that can be scaled is the Science if not it's not."

2,5mm difference in wheel bases value on SXE10 TOYOTA Alteza was corrected in desperate effort yesterday. Naturally right rear axle needed camber and toe adjusting, including thrust angle also.
Without professional devices like lifting machinery nor pit equipment incredible obstacles must be overcome, even leg muscle power was invited with full contraction under the vehicle without any lifting avoiding several bushe's deformations.
Almost 8 hours grappling with muscle works and precisely adjusting procedures were enough to have made me exhausted completely.

Set Back adjustment

Frontal wheel alignments are very important to obtain the best steering reactions.
Ordinally toe angle and camber ones are put an emphasis on, but caster angle values on both sides must be exactly the same as to seconds angle value. Of course they have intimate relations with SAI(Steering Axis inclination) three dimensionally that is the same meaning as Included Angle, plus camber angle value.
So the first step in wheel alignment procedures should be the establishment of frontal set back, otherwise leter adjusting tasks would be constructed on ill foundation. The difference on both side at minute angle revel would produce weak, soft ,right and unreliable steering however precisely the following adjustment were established. On the other hand, cambers and toes are established so precisely on fixed set back with no error, the steering reactions would be very tight and reliable in centric position if thrust angle error exists in condition with two centric positions including pseudo one. But relatively easy to feel and to find out the trust angle error in that circumstance, in correct set back adjustment.

Motivation

To do something for any person, a motivation is necessary, the tasks obliged by any reason and by another person are not so interesting.
Ordinary motivations are formed with some interests or curiosities, so make students have any concentrations in something.
Just teaching is easy but nourishing next generation is very difficult for parents and teachers, turning back myself as a lecturer for 15 years period of time.

Sumo Gambling

Recently baseball gambling by Sumo players has been repeatedly casted, then how about Sumo Game gambling itself by baseball players ?
Now is the time to cut off giving them national tax because of the reason that Sumo is Japanese National Game, better oblige them to be an independent group financially.
Their internal condition, the Sumo field head players are almost occupied by foreigners, this is the point to be put an emphasis on, difficulties to keep it as a National Game in Japan now.
Though we Japanese was completely defeated by US in WW2, we've won US National baseball game twice, those were sweet feats on earth.

Frontal set back error

Recent research has proved that the frontal set back adjustemet must performed at first in wheel alignment adjustment and any other trial with set back error would not efective nor in vain because of uneven frontal self centering effects on both sides that has much to do with caster trails.
The adjustments are so accurate as to micrometer level and seconds angle value.
The caster trail error is observed on hill climbing up and down because the caster angle(included angle) changes according to the road inclination.
Experimental situations exist here and there if self concentrations are scattered for researching result.

Work on Compacts

Inquiry to the factory proved that many troubles occured in drive shaft joint on NCP10 Vitz historically, also re-called.
The reactions on the problems by the dealer are just replacing the parts, no way to disassembling the shaft joint. I'll open the boot on the joint to know the cause of the small but occaisional knocking noise right outer joint. Probablly new grease application to the ball joints will solve the problem.
Replacement of fuel pump will be the following task before noon today on EP82 Starlet.

Suffer

The suffer caused by some good intentions to improve some situations is to be seen in any case. For example, Exhaust Gas Recirculation(EGR) emission control system on the vehicle is so designed to cause incomplete combustions by inletting some amount of exhaust gas leading to burning at lower temperature. The purpose is reduction of poluting emission gas.Then, what'll happen if this dirty exhaust gas circulation is stopped by some method ? Naturally the burning temperature rises up and cooling liquid temp also up, leading to high utilization rete of electric cooling fan, following the lack of charging in lead battery is the result.

Rubber & Lubricant

In order to keep the performance of any machinery at ultimate condition, keen capability to know the actual symptoms utilizing 5 senses sometimes 6th one is required. The lack of lubrication on moving parts means metal connecting wear leading to backlashes. Many rubber parts are applied to keep grease oil as boots shaped parts, gaskets for prevention of leakage and insulators for noise and vibrations.

Especially vehicles have many of them, so continuous checking is required by the users as is enshrined in the Road Vehicles Act.

Future tasks remained:

*BC7 SUBARU Legacy

Wheel hubs greas up and rear drive shafts boots inner and outer replacement.

Brake master cylinder inner cup replacement.

Frontal brake calipers replacement into 4 pods.

Frontal lower arms replacement into alminum construction.

Wheel alignment and geometry re-construction.

*EP82 TOYOTA Starlet

Fuel pump replacement.

*NCP10 TOYOTA Vitz

Frontal right side drive shaft replacement.

Weel alignment and geometry re-construction.

*SXE10 TOYOTA Alteza

Frontal cambers re-checking and thrust angle reconstruction.

*XH200W OPEL B-Vectra

Frontal suspension spring rubber upper seats and upper supports replacement after shock absorber replacements.

Rear shock absorbers replacement including rubber parts.

Geometry and wheel alignments reconstruction.

Rectifier and voltage regulator in the alternator replacement from original one to Astra's.

Radio antenna booster re-checking.

Modify autos

To modify a tall passenger car into sporty condition is no meaning. Tall shape itself has disadvantage for physical stability, no way to escape from this truth and fact.

So the vehicles in normal condition as factory finally decided design is the vest balanced one.

Because professionals did it depending on their responsiblities by their own risks. Ordinal vehicle users neve exceed even a piece of their capabilities.

For example, compliances on axle construction, the designers and engneers pay ultimate attentions to the balance between them.

Only a small rubber bush replacement affects the total ballance.

The same is said onto the designing of a drivers chair. The raplacement into 3rd parties sport type means the realization of the lack of axle stability and motor mount deformations. Concequently any replacement into defferent one means destruction of total compliance balance.

Knocking noise

XH200W B-Vectra driven by my friend proved the cause of knocking noise is just from shock absorver on rear left side, sitting myself on rear seat the fact was so clear.

Disassembling the construction would show more precisely, the climinal may be the piston guide wear or dumping rubber deformation, this is today's task.

Lateral arm joints were replaced previously, but another reasons exit.

Accuracy

Less than 10 days are left before Summer solstice, coming stuffy atomosphir this year.

It's very difficult to work outside under the circumstances.

Over 10 years of self-researching enabled me to come to an incredible level in the accuracy of scaling and adjusting on the wheel alignments and constructive geometry of the vehicle.

According to service manual the three dimensinal wheel inclinning values are shown as degrees and minutes units, but now my capable angle value is seconds !

I've found out that the incredible world is opend the day before yesterday while the adjusting on SXE10 Alteza.

Three pieces of Chimaki for ceremony that my intimate Chinese friend gave me remind me of sweetest days with a sweet heart in Shanghai 25 years ago, her name was Shaorinn, who was a graduate student of No2 Shanghai Medical School.

The taste and flavor of triangle rice ball remembered me many memories so clearly as if it was the affair happened yesterday.

As proverb says, "Every dog has his day.", I had my days at that time in foreign land, The People's Republic of China, this is the sweetest memory for myself never to forget all through my life.

Written in the evening:

Finding out the hysteresis in handle luck mount rubber adapter on NCP10 Vitz today, some countermeasure was applied. Insertion of 1mm thickness rubber seat between luck and adapter rubber far improved steering feel. Unexplainable strange reaction disappeared and fine clear reactions are obtained as another vehicles I'm keeping.

Battle

Some battle in the nature is observed this morning. A moth left side is alive fighting with small spider right side.
Though I wished to help it, deeper consideration made me do nothing, it's one of the phenomena, natural selection.

Abuse

Abuses caused by kids are unpleasant so much.They play baseball game on the public road with tennis ball with swinging bat.

The ball comes into my flower garden every day, kids coming into our private place without permission, devastating our nourishing flower plant.

Though I think it just a tiny happening by kids, they leave our gate fully opened without any apology, it's just for robbers ?

Basically the responsibility of these unprecedented behaviors by kind dues to their palent, so I think.

They sould know this is not the place for the game, better go to the ground in their school.

Judging from the existing of many geriatric nighbors swinging bat is dangerous enough, so stop before some irreparable accident occurs.

My opinion is out of orbit ?

Set Back error

The wheel alignment adjustments on NCP10 Vitz and EP82 Starlet have made me realize the importance of "Set Back". However precisely the alignments and geometry may be established, strange and unexplainable steering reaction is not possible to eliminate thoroughly if the existing of set back is ignored. Suppose the wheel bases on both side are so adjust to be the same value according to standard one with the condition of including set back error. The behavior itself is the same as producing "Swung Rear End" error.

So it is said that the initial step of wheel alignment is checking and examining the set back error in any case, otherwise the later efforts are all in vain however hardships may be overcome after that. It took me so long period of time this trifle but indispensable factor.

Today I'll re-examine the error of set back on SXE-10 Alteza.

Written in the evening:

The set back value plus 1,73 min(angle) was found on SXE10 Alteza, so left frontal lower arm bolts connecting with knuckle were loosened and re-tightened for adjusting in combination with toe adjustment.

Tight and solid steering feeling was increased in centric position after correction. The more precise wheel alignment leads to the more confidential and concrete steering stability.

Keep Machinery

Keeping machineries including vehicle need some adequate maintenances. So any devices could be kept unlimitedly if the maintenances are serviced enough. The same thing is said to family use electric furnitures. Consequently they in my house are relatively old over 10 years old. Someone in my house has some complaint because of old design. Probably the newer the better for house keeping person if the poorer performance it may be.

Motor performance

Obtaining best performance on 4cycle motor is one of the very professional work for vehicles. The engineers in factory make some desparate efforts to carry out their duties. They are salaried by the work, then is it possible to exceed them in the field for amature layman ? The answer goes without saying, no !

My son wants to replace the original muffler into 3rd party's one, how come ? He ignores the efforts by engineers without deeper considerations ? Even 4cycled motor has much to do with exhaust pressure in intimate relations with firing timing, of course he does not know, just enjoying different exhaust sound.

Some day he may realize himself that how premitive advertisments move his emotions now.

And there is no way to modify making completed vehicle better in any parts except correcting the assembling errors.

My graduated son called me last night noticing me about next voiage to 4 years program doctor course, costing 600,000 yen per year. It means my hard work is being prolonged for 4 years more. I must noursh him as long as 4 years more as a playing, not a studying, young man, how come ?

Firing timing

Setting fireing timing on otto-cycled motor is difficult reqireing experiences and keen sensitivity. Timing is advanced according to vacum pressure, motor's RPM and the speed of vehicle. Very precise rotating adjustment on distributor is necessary, deciding best position, actual running test driving in diferrent burdening are tried on several gear position.

The residual fuel amount affect the throttle response not a little. Hill climbing driving test may be the way. But computer fireing timing fully controlled vehicle is not capable to adjust basically, this is why recent sophisticated vehicle is not so interesting.

Direct cylindorical injection system needs strange piston top shape compareing with conventional motors, it's a relatively high wall for me to ride over.

Spoil steering response

H-shaped torsion beam rear axle in NCP10 Vitz spoils the steering response.

Remembering history, Peugeot 205, EP82 Starlet, former had a torsion beam on trailing hinge line, latter had it on wheel center line with lateral rod support, steering responses were different from each other.

Then haw about H-shaped one on Vitz ? I'm afraid to write on this, rear axle is easy to move inconveniently in very initial stage on steering action, naturally because of loosing lateral support by another arm, lateral rod. So, such kind of standing point of view, lateral supports are indispensable factor to establish firm and confidential reaction on steering.

The comparison upper different constructions of rear axles proves the necessity of lateral supports, primitive imagination by kids may understand this physical property, however hard the engineers may prepare rhetorical flourish like "Self toe control new system".

Astringency on steering

Lack of astringency on steering reacations are observed on NCP10 Vitz being far from that of EP82 Starlet with some modification for that important physical property. Checking the luck mounting adapters this morning, proved the cause of strange action owes only on the clucked and easily deformable compliance bush equipped on frontal lower arm rear portion. This bush need some modifications, filling with liquid urethane rubber or complete replacement into bB model's lower arms assembly, if I continue this new commer.

Remembering 10 years ago before starting DIY vehicle manitenances, on the way of servicing I knew that the point should be put an emphasis on, the accuracy of vehicle construction, the factory just assembled with no adjusting. But, I didn't know why nor how this kind of dilemma must be processed in my mind. Trying to adjust the wheel alignments, I visited some professional's, but in vain no satisfactory was obatained.

The fact was the reason to made me go into this field. Now I feel in the end, it deos matter wheather how did I work on it efficiently.

Nav. adapter

Re-tightening the bolts on rear axle connecting with hub case on left side were performed on NCP10 Vitz for securing. Also the adapter to adhere portable navigation system onto handle column was created with wood piece by grinding the 3dimesionally concaved shape, painted in black color, being not like hand made one.

The best way to check the establishment of wheel alignment and geometrical axle construcions are followings.

Stopping and starting without any adjustments on steering wheel.

Capable to keep straight running at least 100m on the flat highway under no adjusting.

The center feeling of the vehicle duplecates on that of driver.

As a resultant disadvantage, easily becomes sleepy the driver because the driving concentration is not reqired.

Thrust angle on XH200W B-Vectra

The thrust angle on XH200W were adjusted firmly today, the errors were caused by rear lateral arm ball joints replacement last time. The angle value was minus 1min and 19sec. Though the steering action with this error was almost acceptable, I dare adjust to the utmost accurately on earth, needless to say that the steering action became far better, far tight in centric position.

By the way, the permissible tolerance on European Safety Standard is plus minus 10 minutes on thrust angle.

For measuring and adjusting laser pointer equipped special was used on the distance of 2645mm. The value of negative cambers for rear axle were previously fixed precisely at the inclination of 90min, utilizing 1719,75mm diameter pendulum special tool, the reason for the diameter is convenience of reading 2min/1mm.

Enjoy labor

In order to overcome hardships I make it a rule to percieve them as just playings, try to enjoy doing them. The success is just in touch a micrometer forwad, so continue making efforts. I may change myself to any direction or even may stop anytime I want, but the destination is just in touch, this is only a play, not so difficult. Also today I'll play in something.

Butyl rubber material

Butyl rubber material has inevitable physical property so to speak plastic deformation under sustained loading. The frontal strut upper mount on vehicles supports over 500kg all the time in addition to vertical resisting brakeing power. So this part has tendency to deform gradually as time passes, causing frontal height down. As a matter of fact, the caster action reduces because of loosing frontal height. This phenomena happens so slowly as not to be realized by ordinal driver, if the stability is lost while straigh running by loosing caster action.

This is why many of rubber parts in vehicle should be replaced as periodical replacement parts.

In another words vehicles are capable to continue so long time as 200,000km or 20years if the maintenaces are performed properly.

Mission

Today's CNN began with the mission of Israel at Meditaranian Sea near by Gaza in international waters. Turk's flotilla with supporting aids for Hamas was cought by Israely Defence Force. They always play strong maneuvers depending on their own policy, being downfallen by the Ancient Roman and newly estblished Jewish country after the WW2, they have no way to loose Israel, it unmovable their standing point .

60 years ago we Japanese were destroyed by US with 2 Atomic Bombs, Fat man and Little boy, how about our policy and idea now after that ?